ICD-10: Where is it? When is it?
This article appeared in the July 2007 issue of The LINK. ICD-10 is out there. Did you know that we are the only country on the planet that has not converted to the ICD-10 system? ICD-10 has been trying to make its debut in our country for more than ten years now. Currently, the implementation [...]
PET Scan Coverage is Expanding
This article appeared in the August 2003 issue of The LINK. Codes recognized by Medicare are: G0296 (new code): “PET imaging, full and partial ring PET scanner only, for restaging of previously treated thyroid cancer of follicular cell origin following negative I-131 whole body scan.” This one is covered for recurrent or residual thyroid cancer [...]
Correct Coding Initiative Changes
This article appeared previously in The LINK. The Correct Coding Initiative version 7.3 that took effect October 1st has a total of 3,105 changes. 3,095 of these changes are comprehensive component edits and 10 are mutually exclusive code edits. The specialties most affected are anesthesiology, urology, and cardiovascular surgery. In anesthesiology, the edits bundle many [...]
Medicare Changes
This article appeared previously in The LINK. Effective October 1, 2001, code 76977 for ultrasound bone density measurement will see about a 40% decrease in reimbursement for both the global and technical component when done in a physician’s office. This is due to a reduction in the Non-Facility Practice Expense RVU. The globals for codes [...]
New HCPCS Modifiers!
This article appeared previously in The LINK. Effective January 1, 2002, two new modifiers will be recognized by Medicare. GY – item or service statutorily excluded or does not meet the definition of Medicare benefits. GZ – item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary. The modifiers will replace the –GX [...]